Quick-releasable cover lock for a pressure container



July 7, 1970 H. STROHMEIER EVAL QUICK-RELEASABLE COVER LOCK FOR A PRESSURE CONTAINER Filed July 15, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS R m E MT Wm Rm TC SS T um Q MT L Em HD Y B July 7, 1970 H. STROHMEIER ETAI- www@ QUICK-RELEASABLE COVER LOCK FOR A PRESSURE CONTAINER Filed July 15, 1968 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O m Em WT LS T U M L E H HM R DIETER SCHMiDT United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 292-54 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rapid release cover lock for securing the cover lid to the opening flange of a pressure container wherein the cover lid has a plurality of pockets located at spaced intervals along its periphery which correspond with a similar plurality of spaced pockets formed in the inner face of the container flange so that a lock consisting of a pair of semi-cylindrical sections may be inserted into the pockets. A pivot bolt is coupled to the locking sections to permit pivotable movement of the sections Within the pockets to secure the cover lid to the container flange.

This invention relates to a quick releasable cover lock for pressure containers having an insertable cover.

Such containers must be opened and closed within certain time intervals during installations, and disassemblies, for controlling purposes, and while replacing functional elements. It is a prerequesite in such cases to be able to open and to close the containers in the quickest way possible, in order to avoid longer periods of interruptions during operation. Moreover, the connecting parts of the cover locks must transmit the entire pressure exerted on the cover lid onto the cylindrically formed walls of the pressure container. Conventional techniques secure cover lids to the containers by means of nuts and bolts. This is disadvantageous in that the nuts and bolts must be rather large when containers of large diameters are being used.

It is also known to use locks in accordance with the Bredtschneider system. In this system, a cover lid which comprises an outside diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the container, is inserted into the container. The cover lid transmits the exerted pressure onto the container across a plurality of rings, the outside diameter of which is larger than the inner diameter of the container, and the inner diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the container. The cover lid is inserted into a groove which is located around the circumference of the container. A ring which is located on the front face of the container retains the cover lid and is connected with the cover lid by means of screws. A seal is then pretensioned by tightening the screws. The seal is positioned between the cover lid and a pressure ring. The pressure ring is located between the seal and the plurality of rings. These conventional cover lid locks may also be opened and closed in a relatively fast manner. However, if containers with large diameters are being used, for example 2,000 mm. in diameter and greater, then these known locks become expensive and complicated. Moreover, their handling becomes dillicult and time consuming because many large and heavy parts must be moved by employing corresponding lifting and moving devices.

When containers are used with insertable cover lids, the object of the invention is achieved as follows: When the cover lid is inserted in place, there are a plurality of semi-cylindrical pockets located opposite to each other on the cylindrical outer surface and the cylindrical inner 3,519,296 Patented July 7, 1970 ICC face of a jacket flange which receives semi-cylindrical locking pieces. These locking pieces are arranged in pairs and are commonly rotatable about a pivot bolt parallel to the axis of the container. The pivot bolt also extends to the outside of the container. After being rotated, the cover lid and the jacket flange are then connetced with each other.

During the insertion of the cover lid, the locking pieces are arrested in the cover lid and the jacket ange, respectively, by means of an arresting screw, Any other suitable securing means however may be applicable.

The sealing of the lid with respect to the container may be accomplished in many ways. One way of accomplishing the sealing is to utilize a conventional pressure ring. The pressure ring would be located on the inner face of the cover lid and operated by tightening screws from the outside. The inner and outer conical ring face of the pressure ring would then press a corresponding sealing ring, preferably a metal wire, into the space between the cover lid and the container jacket on the one hand, and against the pressure ring, on the other hand. This mode of sealing is particularly advantageous because an increasing pressure on the inside of the container will increase the sealing force of the seal.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a cover lid lock which may be easily opened and closed by using easy handling parts.

It is another object of this invention to provide a seal for a cover lid which may be moved by using simple lifting devices.

It is still another object according to the present invention to provide a container connection which is simple in design, easy to manufacture, and which provides a long operating life.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose two embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only, and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through a container jacket flange with cover lid and the locking means in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view partly in cross section of the container with cover lid and locking means taken along line lI-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a longitudinal section of the cover lid;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a longitudinal section of the container jacket;

FIG. 5 is a view of a pair of locking pieces together with the pivot bolt; and

FIG. 6 is a view partly in cross section of the sealing in enlarged scale taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 1.

Referring to FGS. 1-5, it can be seen that cover lid 1 is positioned with its face 2 of shoulder 3 on faeeof pocket 5 located in the container jacket ange 6. The longer portion of cover lid 1 extends into jacket flange 6 and is centrically positioned. Semi-cylindrical locking pieces 9 and 10 are located in the semi-cylindrical pockets 7 in the cover lid 1 and in correspondingly formed pockets 8 in the jacket flange 6. The longitudinal axis of jacket flange 6 runs parallel to the separating space between the cover lid and the container, and parallel to the axis of the container. `One locking piece 9 is positioned in pocket 7 of cover lid 1. A second locking piece 10 is positioned in pocket 8 of the container jacket flange 6 (see point A in FIG. 2). During assembly, locking pieces 9 and 10 are arrested by fastening screws 11 and 12.

After inserting cover lid 1, and after loosening arresting screws 11 and 12, locking pieces 9 and 10 are rotated by about 90 (see point B in FIG. 2) by means of fins 13A and 13B on the end of pivotable bolt 13 and inserted between locking pieces 9 and 10. Thereafter, arresting screws 11 are tightened again to avoid rotation of the lid. The arresting of locking pieces 9 and 10` during and after assembly may be effected in any other suitable manner.

A pressure ring 16 (FIG. 6) is located in space 14 on the inside of cover lid 1. Pressure ring 16 is pressed against cover lid 1 by tightening screws 15. Screws 15 are tightened externally. The outer and the inner conical ring face of pressure ring 16 will then press sealing rings 17 and 18 against jacket flange 6 and against cover lid 1, respectively, to provide a tight seal between cover lid 1 and the container.

The advantages achieved with subject invention are found particularly in the simple handling of the connecting elements during assembly and dismantling of the lid. Even with rather large containers only one lifting device would be needed for lifting the lid. Therefore, the time for assembly and dismantling of the lid in subject invention is much shorter than with lids of conventional construction and conventional locking means. Moreover, the manufacture of locking devices for larger containers is also less expensive and simpler when using the subject invention.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that many other changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A rapid release cover lock apparatus for securing a cover lid to the opening iiange of a pressure container, comprising a cover lid for disposal in said liange opening and having a plurality of pockets located at spaced intervals on its peripheral side wall, a plurality of correspondingly spaced pockets formed in the inner face of said container ange, and locking means disposed in said co-aligned pockets, said locking means comprising a pair of sections and a pivot bolt disposed between each of said sections for effecting pivotable movement of said sections within said pockets to secure said cover lid to said container ange.

2. The lock apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said pockets when in alignment form a cylindrical space and wherein said lock sections are correspondingly semicylindrical for pivotably sliding in said pockets.

3. The lock apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said locking means comprises a plurality of arresting screws threadably engaged in said cover lid and said jacket ange, and urged against each of said locking sections to prevent movement thereof.

4. The lock apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the common axes of said pivot bolts are parallel to the axis of said container.

y5. The lock apparatus as recited in claim 3 additionally comprising a pressure ring mounted on the inside wall of cover lid, a seal disposed in the space between said cover lid and said container flange and in contact with said pressure ring, and means for externally urging said pressure ring against said seal between said container parts.

6. The lock apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said seal comprises a metal wire.

7. The lock apparatus as recited in claim S wherein said external urging means comprises a plurality of spaced, apart tightening screws slidably disposed within said cover lid and threadably engaged to said pressure ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,684,983 9/1928 Clark 292-304 2,181,905 12/1939 MCCrery 229-56 2,290,528 7/ 1942 Bertram 220-46 2,584,100 1/1952 Vecker 220-46 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. XJR. 2924-206 

